Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,173, John Gerrish, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Gerrish, John.
S 29.173
CONTENTS

15-058 Massachusetts
John Gerrish
Officer in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Nagen of the Regt. commanded by Col. Meigs within the Massachusetts line for 8 months
Cont. & Mtn
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 26 Dollars - 87 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of May 1833 and sent Mrs. Mary Newburyport Massachusetts
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $53.34 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep. " 13.33 $66.67
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. D. Madison Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 2 d Page 28
80 Ester

13585 John Gerrish Mass
Frank & Marks
St. Mark's Expr Newburyport Mass
memoranda
1. Q. Did you know that the foregoing statement and the answers given with the evidence in the case above
2. Was the paper deposition as to your re-examination and cross-examination in what respect
3. Is the statement supported by the deposition of the deponent? If not, in what respects does it differ from the deposition?
4. When did he make when he entered the service?
5. In what office was he engaged?
6. State the service rendered in the form annexed.
7. How old is he?
8. If police or judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by physical infirmity?
9. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?
10. or 1912 in the year 1882 in the year 1882

BRIEF in the case of  John Gerrish  of Essex in the State of Mass  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? before the Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 78  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 17/6 enlisted 2 As a Private Gen. Capt Morrill Col Smith   " " 6 " Capt Rogers Col Wigglesworth  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Salisbury Essex Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional. Some living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Payson
Examining Clerk.

Jerun Gornik
13.585

Declaration , in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
State of Massachusetts: County of Essex, ss.
On this eleventh day of September A. D. 1832, personally appeared before the Honorable Daniel Upham White, Judge of the Court of Probate for the county of Essex aforesaid, John Gerrish, a resident of Salisbury, in the county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, aged seventy eight years and upwards, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth, on his oath, make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated:
He first enlisted at Salisbury in the company commanded by Captain Henry Morris in January 1776, in the Regiments commanded by Colonel Smith, and served four months as Prospectus
Afterwards enlisted in the company commanded by Captain Wm Rogers also in 1776 and served at Farmington, in the Regiments under Colonel Cragg for the six months.
That he was born in Newburyport in the year 1754 That he was born in Newburyport in the year 1754 and lived in Salisbury when he voluntarily enlisted - record of his age is on the Town books - does not know whether he had a written discharge or not - but reason of age and infirmity, he is unable to make a better statement -
That he now resides at Salisbury aforesaid, and has resided there forty years and more and before that lived in Newburyport - Richard Gerrish and Francis Fossick can testify to his character for veracity, and their belief of his revolutionary services. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
D. U. White Judge of Probate

We Rev Thomas Rich a Clergyman, residing in Salisbury aforesaid, and Samuel Watton Esquire, a Magistrate, residing in Salisbury aforesaid, do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Gerrish who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration; that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age, and upwards; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Thomas Rich
subscribed and sworn to before
W W Oates Justice of the Peace
Samuel Watton
And the said court hereby declares its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, (and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that Rev Thomas Rich who has signed the foregoing certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in Salisbury aforesaid (and that the said Samuel Watton Esquire who has also signed the same, is a Magistrate resident at Salisbury aforesaid (and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.)
D H White Judge of Probate
I Nathaniel Lord junior, register of the court of probate for the county of Essex aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Gerrish for a pension; also that William Woart is a justice of the peace for said county and that his signature to each of the annexed affidavits is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this eleventh day of September, A.D. 1832.
C Nath. Lord Jr. N

1282
I. Aaron Merrill, of Hampton Falls, in the county of Rockingham, in the State of New Hampshire, aged Seventy Eight years, and upwards, on oath do testify and declare, that I am well acquainted with John Gernick, of Salisbury, in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and do know that the said John Gernick was a private soldier, and served in the army of the United States, in the war of the rebellion, in the company commanded by Captain Henry Merrill, in the regiment commanded by Colonel Smith at Project Island town, in February and March 1776. Two full months - I was a private and served in the same company and regiment at the same time. -
Aaron Merrill
Newburyport July 26th 1832.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Essex ss. Town of Newburyport, July 26th 1832. Then Aaron Merrill a man named, who is personally known to me, personally came, and made oath in due form of law, to the truth of the above written declaration by him subscribed in my presence - I do also certify that the said Aaron Merrill is believed by me to be a credible witness.
Wm Oakes Justice of the Peace

1222
I Robert Fowler, of Salisbury in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy-three years, do hereby testify and declare, that I am well acquainted with John Gannett, of said Salisbury, and do know that the said John Gannett, was a private soldier, in the army of the United States in the war of the revolution, and served thereon as such, in the company commanded by Captain William Royce, and in the regiment commanded by Colonel Wigglesworth, at Ticonderoga, six months, in the year 1774, recruited with me, in June, and served until December, to the best of my present recollection - an indited together. And served in the same company, the term of six months, as aforesaid.
Robert Fowler
Newburyport July 26th 1832
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Essex ss, Town of Newburyport, July 26th 1832 - Then Robert Fowler, above named, who is personally well known to me, personally came, and made oath, in due form of Law, to the truth of the above written deposition, by him subscribed in my presence. - I do also certify that the said Robert Fowler is believed by me to be a credible witness.
W. M. Davis Justice of the Peace

122 I, Josiah French of Salisbury in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Eighty years and upwards, do hereby testify and declare that I am well acquainted with John Gerrish of said Salisbury and do know that he served in the army of the United States in the war of the revolution in the year 1776. I know that he enlisted to some of the Company commanded by Captain William Rogers and marched to Ticonderoga. I am knowing to his enlistment and I know that he marched with the Company from said Salisbury, and have no doubt that he served the term for which he enlisted which was to the close of my remembrance was six months. I had a brother who served in the same company and they returned together. I know that he was also previously in Captain Henry Morris's company and served at Cambridge in said State. August 20. 1832 Josiah French
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Edson D. Town of Newburyport August 28th 1832. Then Josiah French above named, who is personally well known to me personally came and made oath in full form of Law, to the truth of the above written deposition by him subscribed in my presence. I do also certify that said Josiah French is believed by me to be a credible witness. M. W. Carr, Justice of the Peace

1222
I Richard Gerrish of Salisbury in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John Gerrish of said Salisbury, and do know that said John Gerrish was a soldier, and served in the Army of the United States in the war of the revolution. — I do know that he enlisted in the year 1776 in the company commanded by Captain Henry Merrill to serve for two months, and I do know that he marched to Prospect Hill, and have full reason to believe and do believe that he served in said company the full time for which he enlisted. — I live in his immediate neighbourhood, & have always been well acquainted with him.
Newburyport Aug. 20 th 1832.
Richard Gerrish
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss. Town of Newburyport August 20 th 1832. Then Richard Gerrish above named who is personally known to me, personally came and made oath in due form of Law, to the truth of the above and other deposition by him subscribed in my presence — I do also certify that said Richard Gerrish is believed by me to be a credible witness.
W. O. D.

29173 INVALID.
his
and
29172
John Gerlach all his
for the
order - Vol. 2, Page 151
[Signature]

18585
John Gerrish
M. Wears

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Guttish which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yy
V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yy
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yy

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yy XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yy Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yy XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yy XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yy XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yy
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.